A subsidiary of Delta Dunia Makmur, PT Bukit Teknologi Digital (BTech), has partnered with The University of Queensland (UQ) to enhance innovation and sustainability in the mining sector.BTech's President Director, Endang Veronica, stated that this collaboration marks an important milestone in the company's journey to deliver cutting-edge technological solutions for the mining industry."Collaboration with The University of Queensland strengthens our commitment to innovation and sets new standards for reliability and sustainability in the industry," said Endang, as quoted on Sunday (November 17).This partnership will focus on developing a framework for Asset Health Indicators, which will provide accurate estimates of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of critical heavy equipment components. This will enhance maintenance efficiency, reduce unexpected downtime, and lower repair costs.The University of Queensland was chosen due to its status as a leading research university with a strong focus on high-quality, cross-disciplinary global collaborations with both public and private organizations.The university's School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering has deep expertise in mining-related research, particularly in the areas of RUL and Predictive Maintenance.Earlier, Delta Dunia Group also signed an umbrella agreement with the university on September 20, 2024, as part of a broader initiative to strengthen research and innovation collaboration between Indonesia and Australia.This collaboration is expected to provide significant benefits for stakeholders in both countries, accelerating progress in sustainable mining practices and technological innovation.

The Director of PT TBS Energi Utama Tbk. (TOBA), Juli Oktarina, confirmed that the operations of the company's three coal mines will cease by 2027 at the latest. This closure is due to the depletion of the mines' reserves (fully mined out) and is part of TBS's strategic move to achieve its Carbon Neutrality target by 2030."The reserves are already depleted, and we do not have new mines yet. That’s why we are confident that by 2027, all operations will cease. However, the timing won't be the same for all of them. Some will be fully mined out by 2025, others by 2026, and the last one by 2027. So, all three mines will be fully mined out by 2027," explained Juli.The three coal mines are PT Adimitra Baratama Nusantara (ABN), PT Trisensa Mineral Utama (TMU), and PT Indomining (IM).Juli acknowledged that the closure of these mines will impact the company’s cash flow, especially since the majority of revenue is still reliant on the mining business. However, due to the company's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, TBS is transitioning its business toward green energy in the future.This shift to a green business model will require significant investment, particularly in infrastructure development. At the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held in Jakarta on Thursday, November 14, 2024, independent shareholders approved the divestment of two coal-fired power plant (PLTU) assets, each with a capacity of 200 MW, operated by subsidiaries PT Minahasa Cahaya Lestari (MCL) and PT Gorontalo Listrik Perdana (GLP).Juli mentioned that the company has found a buyer, PT Kalibiru Sulawesi Abadi (KSA), for a transaction value of USD 144.8 million, which is higher than the company’s initial investment of USD 87.4 million.This move will help offset the EBITDA loss from the coal power plants and allow the company to reinvest in its green energy initiatives, aligning with its sustainability goals."Strategically, we want to recycle the earnings from our mining business and the coal power plant business into three key segments: renewable energy, electric vehicles, and waste management. The corporate actions we are taking, including this divestment, are crucial steps in executing the strategy we communicated several years ago," Juli concluded.

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) announced that it produces 1 million tons of the world-class quality copper annually.The statement was made during a media gathering held by PTFI in Jayapura City, Papua Province, on Thursday.PTFI Vice President of Corporate Communication Katri Krisnati highlighted that while 2024 brought several challenges, the company also achieved remarkable milestones."One of the unexpected achievements was the recent inauguration of a copper smelter with the world’s largest production capacity," she said.Katri also mentioned that the smelter is located in Gresik, East Java Province.“With the inauguration of this smelter, copper concentrate from Papua can now be fully processed within the country,” she said.She added that the smelter is expected to produce 1 million tons of copper cathodes annually.“In addition to producing 1 million tons of copper cathode, it will also generate 50 tons of gold bars, 200 tons of silver, and various other precious metals,” she said.She further noted that with the operation of the smelter in Gresik, East Java, PT Freeport Indonesia has become the world’s largest copper mine operator and now manages a smelter with some of the highest mining revenues globally.“PT Freeport Indonesia is now the world's largest vertically integrated mining company, from upstream to downstream,” she added.Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk, who previously served as Acting Governor of Central Papua, expressed confidence that the presence of the smelter in Gresik would boost production and positively impact the regional economy.“I am impressed that the largest downstream smelting industry has been inaugurated and is now operational, which will significantly contribute to both the regional and national economies,” she said.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has announced that 499 Mining Business Licenses (IUP) have been suspended after their licenses were previously revoked.Tri Winarno, Director General of Mineral and Coal at ESDM, confirmed that out of the 2,078 IUPs whose licenses were revoked by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), 2,051 were officially canceled.Of the remaining IUPs, 596 requested to have their license revocations annulled, but 97 are still pending due to outstanding non-tax state revenue (PNBP) debts. As a result, 499 IUPs have been reinstated in the government system via the Minerba One Data Indonesia (MODI).596 IUPs that requested revocation cancellation, 97 have not met the requirements to be included in MODI due to outstanding PNBP debts," Tri explained during a hearing with Commission XII of the House of Representatives in Jakarta, as quoted on Thursday (14/11/2024)."Currently, the remaining 499 IUPs, which were canceled by BKPM, have been successfully entered into MODI," he added.Meanwhile, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia explained the rationale behind the restoration of several previously revoked Mining Business Licenses (IUPs).The government had initially revoked 2,078 IUPs deemed unproductive as part of efforts by the Investment Acceleration Task Force and the Land Use and Investment Structuring Task Force.Bahlil explained that when he first revoked these licenses, he faced questions because, at the time, he was serving as Minister of Investment, not Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. However, he said that the decision was made in accordance with the directives of the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) and Presidential Decree (Keppres).“At that time, people asked me, 'If you're the Minister of Investment, why did you revoke the licenses?' I told them, ‘The Presidential Regulation and Decree mandated the revocation of land use through the Task Force, whether it's forests or HGUs,’” Bahlil said during a Working Meeting with Commission XII of the House of Representatives, as quoted on Thursday (14/11/2024).In the evaluation process, the government determined that around 500 licenses were eligible for restoration. Bahlil emphasized that this restoration is based on the principle of fairness, particularly for permit holders who have complied with the required terms and conditions.“We opened up the space to assess which licenses should be restored and which should not. That’s when the verification process took place,” he added.

PT Aneka Tambang Tbk. (ANTM) forecasts nickel ore production to reach 11-11.5 million metric tons by the end of 2024. This year, the state-owned mining company received a production license for up to 12 million tons of nickel ore.Arianto Sabtonugroho Rudjito, Director of Finance and Risk Management at Antam, stated that the company has received additional approval for nickel ore production from the government through the Work Plan and Budget (RKAB) for Q3 2024, which allows for 9 million tons of production."Currently, we have produced just over 7 million tons. In October, we received additional RKAB approvals for several new and additional Mining Business Permits (IUPs), which provide us with the opportunity to continue increasing production," Arianto explained on Wednesday (November 13, 2024).Arianto explained that this year, the company received a production license for up to 12 million tons of nickel ore."This means there is still room for about 3 million tons to reach the 12 million-ton target. However, due to time constraints, we will push as hard as possible. So, the maximum production will likely be around 11 million tons," Arianto emphasized.

PT Sumber Global Energy Tbk. (SGER) has entered into a Coal Offtake Agreement with PT Merge Mining Industri (MMI) to ensure a stable coal supply for its regular customers.Under the agreement, MMI, as the seller, intends to supply up to 2 million metric tons (MT) of coal to SGER, the buyer. The agreement will be overseen by PT Merge Energy Sources Development, which holds 172,045 shares in MMI.SGER's Corporate Secretary, Michael Harold, stated that the coal purchased by SGER from MMI has a Gross Calorific Value (GCV) specification of 6,300 kcal per kilogram (kg), with an ash content of 14 percent and a total sulfur content of 0.5 percent.This coal is produced from MMI's own mining area and is not mixed with or sourced from third-party producers.The coal will be delivered by the seller to SGER starting from November 2024 and no later than October 2028," Michael said in an official statement on Wednesday (November 13, 2024).Michael stated that the purpose of this offtake agreement is to ensure a stable coal supply for the company's customers. As a major coal trading company, SGER is committed to providing the highest quality coal at competitive prices.He also expressed optimism about the future prospects of coal, noting that it remains a key energy source, especially in developing countries like Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations."Despite global pressure to transition to cleaner energy, coal demand remains stable, particularly from countries like India, China, and several other Asian nations that continue to increase their energy consumption to support economic growth," Michael explained.In a separate disclosure to the Indonesia Stock Exchange (BEI), it was mentioned that the contract volume between the company and MMI has the potential to generate revenue of up to IDR 3 trillion.The contract volume is 2 million metric tons, with a revenue potential of IDR 3 trillion," said Michael.As of Q3 2024, SGER reported revenues of IDR 10.88 trillion, a 14.30% increase compared to IDR 9.52 trillion in Q3 2023.Michael explained that the increase in SGER’s revenue for the first nine months of 2024 was driven by higher coal and nickel sales.Specifically, SGER's coal sales amounted to IDR 10.65 trillion, up 12.84% year-on-year. Meanwhile, nickel sales surged 211.96%, reaching IDR 228.52 billion, compared to just IDR 73.25 billion in the same period last year.

Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt is exploring options to secure approximately USD 2.7bn (19.33bn yuan) in financing for a nickel processing facility in Indonesia, backed by Ford Motor, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.The Pomalaa Block high-pressure acid leaching (HPAL) project is a collaborative effort between Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Ford Motor and Vale Indonesia, with the three companies making equity investments in the project.The project would process ore provided by PT Vale Indonesia’s Pomalaa Block mine to produce battery-grade nickel essential for electric vehicles (EVs).HSBC and Standard Chartered are leading the loan arrangements and are inviting other banks to contribute to the financing of the battery-nickel facility in south-east Sulawesi, people familiar with the matter said.Indonesia produces more than half of global nickel output and is said to have been attracting foreign investment to enhance its domestic processing capabilities.However, the fundraising efforts coincide with a period of subdued nickel prices, which are hovering near a four-year low, driven by reduced demand from the stainless steel sector and slower-than-anticipated growth in the EV sector.The Pomalaa plant is set to utilise HPAL technology to produce mixed hydroxide precipitate from low-grade nickel ores.With an expected annual output of 120,000 tonnes of nickel, the facility is poised to become one of the largest HPAL projects in Indonesia.Huayou disclosed in a December filing that the total investment for the project is estimated at around $3.8bn.Ownership of the project is divided among the partners, with Huayou holding a 73.2% stake, Vale Indonesia at 18.3% and Ford initially owning 8.5%, with an option to increase its share to 17% within a specified period.While the construction of the Pomalaa plant was projected to take roughly three years, Huayou has not yet provided an updated timeline.The company has, however, indicated that preliminary work on the project commenced earlier this year.

The rating agency PT Pemeringkat Efek Indonesia (Pefindo) has recently assigned an idA+ rating with a stable outlook to the mining company PT Bumi Resources Tbk (BUMI).This rating reflects BUMI’s strong business position in Indonesia’s coal mining sector.However, Pefindo also noted that this rating is constrained by several factors, including moderate operational costs, reliance on a single line of business, as well as risks related to commodity price fluctuations and environmental impact.“The rating could be raised if BUMI succeeds in reducing its cash costs, thereby improving the company’s profit margins and strengthening its operational management,” Pefindo stated in its report, quoted on Saturday (11/9/2024).BUMI also has the potential to further improve its rating if it can diversify its business and generate significant revenue from other sources, rather than relying solely on thermal coal.Conversely, if the company’s revenue or EBITDA falls significantly short of target, Pefindo warns that this could negatively impact BUMI’s capital structure and weaken its cash flow protection capabilities.A decline in coal prices would also put additional pressure on the company’s rating.“We may downgrade the rating if the company’s revenue or EBITDA falls well below target, which could worsen its capital structure and cash flow protection measures,” Pefindo added.For information, BUMI operates in the coal and gold mining sectors through its two subsidiaries, PT Arutmin Indonesia and PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk.The company also holds a 51% majority stake in PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), one of Indonesia’s largest coal mining companies.As of June 30, 2024, BUMI’s shareholding structure comprises Mach Energy (Hong Kong) Limited with a 45.78% stake, HSBC-FUND SVS A/C Chengdong Investment Corp-Self at 10.68%, Treasure Global Investment Limited at 8.08%, and the remaining 35.46% held by the public.According to Pefindo’s assessment, BUMI has opportunities to improve its rating through more efficient cost management and revenue diversification.If successful, this would strengthen its position in the mining industry, though BUMI must remain cautious of commodity market and environmental risks.

China and Indonesia signed deals worth USD 10 billion at the Indonesia-China Business Forum in Beijing on Sunday, spanning sectors including food, new energy, technology, and biotechnology, Chinese state media reported.The forum followed a meeting on Saturday between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is in China through Nov. 10, the first country he has visited since taking office last month.Prabowo, who won Indonesia's presidential election in February, also chose China for his first visit as president elect, underscoring Jakarta's commitment to stronger strategic ties with Beijing.In a joint statement after the leaders' meeting, the countries agreed to enhance collaboration in sectors such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, photovoltaics, and the digital economy.They also pledged to strengthen partnership on the global energy transition and jointly ensure the security of global mineral supply and industrial chains, the statement said.Prabowo in a separate statement said he was optimistic close cooperation between the two countries would improve regional stability."We must set an example that in this era. Cooperation not confrontation is the path to peace and prosperity," Prabowo said, adding Indonesia was committed to supporting Chinese investors.On Sunday, Chinese battery materials producer GEM signed a deal with PT Vale Indonesia to build a high-pressure acid leaching plant in Central Sulawesi, partly to secure nickel resources, a Shenzhen filing showed. Prabowo witnessed the signing.The nickel industry in Indonesia, the world's largest producer of the metal, is dominated by Chinese companies including Tsingshan Holding Group and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt.In the tech sector, Indonesian tech firm GoTo Gojek Tokopedia signed agreements with China's Tencent and Alibaba to develop cloud infrastructure and digital talent in Indonesia, Reuters reported earlier.The two countries will introduce visa measures, including multi-entry long-term visas, and encourage more direct flights and destinations based on demand, the joint statement showed.Other cooperation agreements signed during Prabowo's visit include collaborations in housing and the export of fresh coconuts from Indonesia to China.

PT Bumi Resources Minerals Tbk (BRMS) reported the findings from a field visit and the gold potential of Citra Palu Minerals (CPM) in Sulawesi. BUMI’s Independent Director and Corporate Secretary, Dileep Srivastava, stated that CPM is the company’s only active mine.“At the end of July, we visited Citra Palu Minerals (CPM) in Sulawesi, which is currently the only active gold mine of BRMS,” he said on Wednesday (6/11).The project in this area is a key asset with significant volumes and gold grades. BRMS holds five significant assets covering resources, including 11.04 Moz of gold, 57.7 Moz of silver, 1.9 Mt of copper, 2.5 Mt of zinc, and 1.5 Mt of lead.According to Srivastava, the company highlighted key assets from the visit, with CPM standing out as one of the highest-value resource contributors in the industry.Additionally, the Gorontalo Minerals project also holds gold reserves with strong potential for future copper development.On the other hand, BRMS has secured financing for four gold plants with a capacity of 10,500 tons per day, producing up to 100koz of gold annually. Currently, two plants are operational with a production capacity of 4,500 tons per day.“Production volume for 6M24 has reached 27 koz, surpassing FY23,” he stated.The company plans to continue increasing production until 2028, with modern and sustainable plant operations. CPM will employ Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) and Heap Leach technologies. The higher ore grade at CPM enables the use of CIL technology.“CPM uses filter press technology to dry tailings, which are then stored in a 10-hectare facility, with plans to expand to 25 hectares for this specialized waste management area. This process recycles 20% of the water, which is reused for consumption,” he explained.